King George V & Queen Mary At Delhi Durbar, 1911 Postcard

A 1911 postcard of King George V and Queen Mary at the 1911 Delhi Durbar. Looking back in the picture are King George V and Queen Mary. Surrounding them are the Indian Princelings chosen to be page boys. There was a huge crowd of onlookers that included Indian Maharajahs with their entourage. Dignitaries from India and abroad, military personnel, and so on.

All were allotted their respective places in the Durbar grounds. The Delhi Durbar was about the succession of the new monarch after his father Edward VII’s death. It was held with so much pomp and fanfare never seen in India before. And was also the occasion to announce the shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Since there were not many hotels and boarding places, tents were provided to the maharajahs and dignitaries.

Did you know- the song ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was first sung in the annual conference of the Indian National Conference in Calcutta on 27th December 1911.

From the collection- Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Saraswati” Oleograph., British Cavalrymen Bangalore Cantonment-Old Photo., Elephants Of The Rajah Of Travancore – Old Print 1858